Marc Garneau's science program churns out top students, but will it be a victim of its own success?

Among the Toronto District School Board's many relatively unheralded gems, its TOPS program is, well, among the tops.

Short for "Talented Offerings for Programs in the Sciences," TOPS has been praised in Maclean's magazine and its students have earned a wheelbarrow of major scholarships over the program's 22 years -- TOPS students were offered 15 national scholarships in the last 12 years, and $1.8 million in scholarships last year alone.

Students are not necessarily the smartest around or the most socially advantaged, but they must be hardworking, well-rounded and have a keen interest in science, math and English.

"The dedication of the teachers is mindboggling," says one parent.

"Their expectations are very high ... the kids are motivated to please."

Last weekend some 400 to 500 Grade 8 students wrote the TOPS entrance exam in hopes of scoring one of TOPS 60 coveted Grade 9 spots (the program has about 240 students). When the program held its annual information night for prospective families last month, organizers had to broadcast a simulcast in another room, and the parking lot was full to overflowing at host school Marc Garneau Collegiate in Don Mills.

Michael McMaster, TOPS' curriculum leader, says far more than 60 students are suited for TOPS, he just doesn't have room to let them in. TOPS is housed in one of Toronto's most overcrowded high schools.

Marc Garneau, in the very populous Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood, is at 139% capacity, flouting a city-wide trend of dropping enrolment.

Students eat lunch on the floor, there are portables in the schoolyard and only half of science classes are held in dedicated science labs.

"Our school is like Boxing Day shopping crowds all the time," McMaster says. "It's heartbreaking, the kids I have to turn away."

Two years ago the TDSB looked at the concerns. TOPS parents formed TPG (TOPS Parent Group) and decided their preference was to move the program to another school with more space. Considering the board had a declining enrolment problem generally, they figured that shouldn't be hard.

But the board, having done its own consultation of the TOPS and Garneau communities, turned that down. The community around Garneau did not want to lose what they saw as a community "treasure," says local trustee Gerri Gershon.

As well, the board "believes strongly in equity, access and opportunities to all students, so the one site wasn't going to do it," says Karen Gravitis, TDSB executive superintendent for the board's east region.

The board decided to extend the TOPS brand to the other side of the city with a program at Bloor Collegiate. Its initial Grade 9 class this past September amounted to 22 students, but there are plans to grow the program right up to Grade 12.

The decision hasn't sat well with some Garneau TOPS parents and teachers -- who say they represent many others. Garneau is still overcrowded and hundreds of students are still clamouring to get into its TOPS program.

As well, parents worry the TOPS "brand" may be diminished if TOPS on Bloor is unable to replicate the unique TOPS culture at Garneau.

"It may be excellent but it won't be the same," says Jane Harrison, former co-chair of the TOPS parent group. Meantime, "we haven't solved the problem that brought us to the table in the first place."

While Gershon admits it may not be possible to keep TOPS at Garneau over the long-term, she says it will be at least several years before the board reviews the situation again.

In the meantime TOPS parents have a rare worry in the public school system -- that their children's program may become a victim of its own runaway success.